The lifeline of Southeast Alaska has always been maritime travel. The first mariners in Southeast Alaska were the Tlingit and Haida Indian tribes. They constructed large ocean going canoes to travel long distances for trade, to visit other villages or to wage war. Later, the region was explored by the French, Spanish, and British, but none had a larger presence than Russia.
Following the United States purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, steam powered ships carrying occupation troops and supplies for new settlements traveled throughout the region. Prior to this time, the Alaska coastline was shunned by all except for explorers and traders.
The Southeast Alaska waterways were known as some of the most challenging in the world, due to treacherous tides, winds of gale strength, poor visibility, and unmarked reefs. With these factors and the increased maritime traffic, it resulted in an increase in maritime disasters.
Over a dozen shipwrecks have been identified in Lynn Canal, which was a most direct route to Dyea, the gateway to the gold fields.